Karaops malumbu, Crews, 2023

Crews, Sarah C., 2023, But wait, there's more! Descriptions of new species and undescribed sexes of flattie spiders (Araneae, Selenopidae, Karaops) from Australia, ZooKeys 1150, pp. 1-189 : 1

Karaops malumbu sp. nov.

Figs 29D-G , 30A-E , 32A-C , Maps 1 , 7

Material examined.

Holotype: Western Australia • ♀ (reared in captivity); El Questro Wilderness Area, El Questro Gorge 16°1'16.32"S, 128°1'23.47"E; 30 May 2016; col. S. Crews, J. De Jong leg.; at night on rock walls near overhangs; sel_1305; SCC16_066; (WAM T155681) . Paratypes: ♂, ♀ (reared in captivity); same data as previous; sel_1306, 1309; (WAM T155685, T155682) . Other material examined: 3 imm.; same data as previous; sel_1307, 1308, 1310; (WAM T155683-T155684, T155686) .

Diagnosis.

The female of Karaops malumbu sp. nov. (Fig. 30A, E ) is similar to other Kimberley group species but can be separated from all but K. umiida by the lateral lobe suture which does not reach the atrium in the median field. It can be separated from K. umiida by the sides of the lateral lobes which form a pendant droplet shape (Fig. 30B ), whereas those of K. umiida form a u-shape. The copulatory openings in K. malumbu sp. nov. are inside of a large atrium with a horizontal posterior edge, but the copulatory openings in K. umiida are in a small atrium, with the copulatory ducts branching posterolaterally.

The male of Karaops malumbu sp. nov. (Figs 29F , 30D ) is most similar to K. dejongi sp. nov., but it can be differentiated by the median apophysis, which has spinules on the base (Fig. 32A ), not found in K. dejongi sp. nov. Additionally, in lateral view, the dRTA of K. malumbu sp. nov. has an outer, longer branch, and an inner, shorter, more conical branch, whereas in K. dejongi sp. nov., there is no shorter branch but a jagged structure that connects the dRTA to the vRTA.

Description.

Female (holotype) (Fig. 30A, E ). Total length 4.20. Carapace: length 2.21, width 2.60. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, retromargin with two teeth. Eyes: AER slightly recurved, PER recurved; diameters AME 0.14, ALE 0.07, PME 0.19, PLE 0.26; interdistances AME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.13, ALE-PLE 0.24, PME-PME 0.79, ALE-ALE 1.11, AME-AME 0.39, PLE-PLE 1.41. Sternum: length 1.59, width 1.64. Abdomen: length 1.99, width 1.79. Color (in life Fig. 29D , 30E /preserved Fig. 29E ): Carapace: brownish yellow, with two dark marks below PLE, two large dark patches behind eyes extended to center of carapace, dark mark extended from center just behind furrow to posterior edge of carapace, three pairs of dark spots laterally/orangish white, dark patches less visible except under PLEs. Chelicerae: yellow-brown, longitudinal curved mark frontally, setae pale and thin laterally, darker and thicker anteromedially. Maxillae: yellowish brown. Labium: yellowish tan, pale distally. Sternum: yellowish brown. Abdomen: dorsally, brownish yellow, black dots anteriorly, laterally, two dark patches anteriorly, some chevrons posteriorly/grayish orange; ventrally yellow-gray. Legs: pale brown-yellow, Cx I-III with dark marks dorsally and ventrally (prolaterally and retrolaterally), Tr with dark mark ventrally, Fm with dark spots basally, marks nearly forming annulations medially, dark on edges, not centrally, dusky ring distally at joint, Pt with dark annulation at Fm-Pt joint, Ti with two annulations, one at Pt-Ti joint, other closer to Mt joint, Mt with two annulations, one at Ti-Mt joint, one at Mt-Ta joint, Ta dusky distally; setae on dorsal Fm orangish, dark at tip; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1-0, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2-2; leg III Fm d 1-1-1; leg IV Fm d 1-1-1; leg formula 3241; measurements leg I 9.01 (2.62, 1.12, 2.54, 1.78, 0.95); leg II 10.29 (3.27, 0.99, 2.96, 2.15, 0.92); leg III 11.08 (3.69, 1.11, 2.88, 2.26, 1.14); leg IV 9.60 (3.18, 0.92, 2.32, 2.15, 1.03). Palp: spination Fm 1-1-2, 2.96 (1.11, 0.39, 0.57, 0.89), claw with seven teeth. Epigyne: EP triangular; MF with pendant droplet-shaped At; LLs suture posteriorly, does not reach posterior edge of At; COs in At. Endogyne: large At; CDs large, wide, short, leading to S, ABs, both more sclerotized than CDs, ABs nearly even with top of At, round; S allantoid; FDs directed anterolaterally; small pdf.

Male (paratype). Total length 3.79. Carapace: length 2.20, width 2.55. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, retromargin with two teeth. Eyes: AER slightly recurved, PER recurved; diameters AME 0.20, ALE 0.08, PME 0.21, PLE 0.27; interdistances AME-PME 0.03, PME-ALE 0.15, ALE-PLE 0.22, PME-PME 0.72, ALE-ALE 1.02, AME-AME 0.36, PLE-PLE 1.39. Sternum: length 1.42, width 1.61. Abdomen: length 1.59, width 1.58. Color (in life Figs 29F , 30D /preserved Fig. 29G ): Carapace: brownish yellow with dark patches behind eyes, medially to furrow, three pair of dark spots laterally, dark area posterior to furrow to posterior edge of carapace/orangish white. Chelicerae: tan, with dark patches anteromedially, paturon with longitudinal curved mark frontally/faded. Maxillae: yellowish white. Labium: brownish yellow, pale distally. Sternum: yellowish white. Abdomen: dorsally yellowish brown with dark mark anteriorly, dark spots anteriorly, laterally, two dark patches in anterior 1/3, some chevrons posteriorly/reddish orange, dark patches visible; ventrally yellow-gray. Legs: yellowish white, Cx I-III with dark marks dorsally, ventrally, Tr with dark mark ventrally, Fm with dark spots basally, with annulations medially, dark on edges, not centrally, dusky ring distally at joint, Pt with dark annulation at Fm-Pt joint, Ti with two annulations, one at Pt-Ti joint, one closer to the Mt joint, Mt with two annulations, one at Ti-Mt joint, one at Mt-Ta joint, Ta dusky distally; spination leg I Fm d 1-1-1, pr 1-1-0, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg II Fm d 1-1-1, Ti v 2-2-2-2-2, Mt v 2-2-2; leg III Fm d 1-1-1, pr 0-0-1, Ti v 2-2; leg IV Fm d 1-1-1; leg formula 3241; measurements leg I 10.91 (3.23, 1.18, 3.06, 2.30, 1.14); leg II 12.97 (4.04, 1.19, 3.62, 2.86, 1.26); leg III 14.31 (4.57, 1.35, 3.83, 3.19, 1.37); leg IV 12.48 (3.86, 1.04, 3.28, 3.00, 1.30). Palp: spination Fm d 0-1-2; 2.93 (0.93, 0.55, 0.62, 0.83); vRTA spoon shaped to oblong, ventrally, dRTA with two points visible in ventral or lateral view (Fig. 32A-C ); rbcp smallish; Cy triangular; C with CS that covers ~ 1/2 of E, CS not as sclerotized as C tip; E emerging from large TL with anteriorly projecting middle part, begins at 6 o’clock, ends at 12 o’clock; MA broad at base, with Sp, abruptly narrowed, widened, more sclerotized at tip.

Etymology.

The species name comes from the indigenous name for the area, Malumbu, in the Ngarinyin language. The Ngarinyin are one of three nations of the Wanjina Cultural Group whose Country is in the North West of the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.

Distribution.

Known from only the type locality, El Questro Gorge, Western Australia.

Natural history.

The type locality is in the Victoria Bonaparte I subregion of the Victoria Bonaparte bioregion. The dominant plant community is eucalypt woodlands ( Graham 2001f). The climate is subtropical and most rainfall occurs from December to March. Penultimate females and males were around in the cooler, drier part of the year. Adult males were present at the end of the cooler, drier season and females during the dry, hot (Suppl. material 2: tables S1, S10). This species was collected on rock walls of a gorge at night.

Discussion.

According to IBRA, centers of endemism include rainforest patches, and “dry” rainforest patches may act as refugia. There has been specific survey work in the region but no systematic review of biodiversity. Graham (2001f) stated that there is reasonable evidence of loss of species and assemblage changes. One of the ecosystems at risk is the invertebrate community that occurs at springs found in the area of the type locality.

Figures

Map 1. Map of Australia showing areas that are expanded in subsequent figures. CD = Central Desert group, D = Karaops dawara group, F = Karaops francesae group, K = Kimberley group, UA = species that are not assigned to a group, PG = Pilbara-Gascoyne group.

Map 7. Species of the Kimberley species group. Diamonds (juveniles): light purple = Mimbi Caves; blue = Geike Gorge, green = Adcock Gorge, teal = Augustus Island, pink = Little Mertens Falls, yellow = Emma Gorge, orange = Kelly's Knob, red = Keep River National Park; Circles: green = Karaops dejongi sp. nov., blue = Karaops jenniferae, red = Karaops dalmanyi sp. nov., purple = Karaops sp. adult male (will be described in subsequent publication), white = Karaops conilurus sp. nov., pink = Karaops umiida, yellow = Karaops alanlongbottomi, teal = Karaops keithlongbottomi, mauve = Karaops larryoo, orange = Karaops garyodwyeri sp. nov., black = Karaops malumbu sp. nov. Juveniles are treated as distinct species based on molecular data.

Figure 29. Members of the Kimberley species group A Karaops conilurus sp. nov., paratype male, palp, dorsal, Conilurus Island, Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia (WAM T 110401) B Karaops conilurus sp. nov., holotype male, palp, dorsal, Conilurus Island, Buccaneer Archipelago, Western Australia (WAM T 110400) C Karaops alanlongbottomi, holotype male, palp, dorsal, Degerando Island, Champagny Islands, Western Australia D Karaops malumbu sp. nov., holotype female, El Questro Gorge, Western Australia (sel _ 1305, WAM T 155681) E same F Karaops malumbu sp. nov., paratype male, El Questro Gorge, Western Australia (sel _ 1309, WAM T 155685) G same. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-C); 5 mm (E, G).

Figure 30. A Karaops malumbu sp. nov., El Questro Gorge, Western Australia (sel _ 1306, WAM T 155682) B paratype male, El Questro Gorge, Western Australia (sel _ 1309, WAM T 155685) C same D El Questro Gorge, Western Australia (photo: J. DeJong) E El Questro Gorge, Western Australia F Karaops larryoo, holotype male, Larryoo, Drysdale River National Park, Western Australia. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 32. Karaops malumbu sp. nov., El Questro Gorge, Western Australia A palp, ventral (sel _ 1309, WAM T 155685) B palp, retrolateral C palp, dorsal. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.